Fungal Infection And Things To Know About It

There are fungi that are edible and are actually used as an ingredient to recipes we usually cook. However, there are some that can cause infection and lead to diseases that are life – threatening. It will be a good thing to arm yourself with the right knowledge so you’ll know how to deal with any fungal infection and have it treated immediately.

Different types

Mycosis, or more commonly known as fungal infection, can affect the skin, lungs, or nails. Although there are fungi that are harmless to the human population, there are cases where some fungi can penetrate the skin and affect the organs and the body’s function as a whole under specific conditions.

Athlete’s foot is caused by dermatophytes, which thrive in humid and warm areas, especially in the areas between the toes. This fungal infection causes itching and scaling of the skin. Jock itch on the otherhand, is caused by the same type of fungi but affects the groin area. It mostly affects boys and men, but some women can also suffer from this kind of infection too. Ringworm is another type of fungal infection that affects the scalp and skin, which starts as an itchy, scaly, and reddish rash, which gets larger and forms into a red ring, hence its name.

Causes

People with fungal infections should take utmost care not to let it spread to another person. The good thing is, the body has natural fighting abilities against fungi such as natural bacteria that fight off fungi through nutrients and space deprivation. Our immune system also protects us from fungi colonization, especially in areas with high acidity levels, like the vagina.

But there are cases when the body’s natural defence mechanism fails to ward off fungal infection. If antibiotics are taken for a long time, even the good and helpful bacteria gets destroyed, allowing spreading of the fungi in the body.

Risk Factors

As mentioned before, fungi like to thrive in humid and warm areas. Profuse sweating, for example, can trigger fungal infection. So it would be wise to take the necessary precaution to prevent the condition from worsening. As much as possible, avoid walking barefoot in areas such as locker rooms, gyms, and the showers, as these places are where fungal spores thrive more, which increases the chance of infection.

Poor blood circulation is another factor that leads to infection. One reason is because the immune response of the body is suppressed, which in turn reduces its ability to ward off fungal infection. Even skin or nail injuries can give room for the fungi to penetrate in and cause an infection.

Diagnosis

Majority of today’s known fungal infections are diagnosed based on the appearance, but doctors may also ask how the infection started and progressed, so he’ll know what you are up against. There are also other diagnostic tools used to make an accurate diagnosis, such as scraping off pieces of nails and examining the samples under the microscope, so the doctor can differentiate fungal infection to other possible conditions.